Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

BMW M3 coupe gets stripped down to go club racing

BMW's M division is back in the business of building specialty street-legal race cars with a new lightweight version of the M3 called the GTS. The lightweight coupe, set to go on sale in early 2010 at a yet-undisclosed price, was conceived as a limited-edition model primarily for club-based racing in much the same way that Porsche builds the 911 GT3 Clubsport. But in a clear effort to link its track-based activities with the production-car side of its business, BMW's M division is offering the new car with a homologation package that will allow customers to register the M3 GTS for street use.

BMW: Don't fear the stop/start system in the 2012 3-series

BMW is taking a calculated risk by installing an automatic stop/start system on its best seller, the 3-series, for 2012. But company brass is optimistic that American consumers will adjust to the relatively foreign technology. "Many customers will enjoy the car very quickly," said BMW board member Ian Robertson, who oversees sales and marketing.

Two new Hyundai transmissions boost mpg

Hyundai will introduce dual-clutch and continuously variable transmissions to models for the United States as early as next year as it seeks to become a leader in fuel efficiency, a top executive says. This will be the first application of a dual-clutch transmission for Hyundai. The transmission--which uses two clutches to shift a manual gearbox as if it were an automatic--is more efficient than either a traditional manual or automatic gearbox.